Late Drama Denies Win At Preston

In a highly entertaining game Hull seemed to have secured victory at 30-18 with only a couple of minutes to play, but two late tries with one converted saw Preston Grasshoppers snatch a draw in the last second of the game.

Hull had the better of the first half, but a late Preston try saw the game finely balanced at 16-8 in Hull’s favour at the break.

Hull started well and after just two minutes off half Reece Dean kicked a good penalty to see Hull open the scoring. Another Dean penalty after 10 minutes saw Hull lead 6-0 .

Preston gathered themselves and after a series of rolling mauls hooker Trippier seemed to go over but he was pulled back for a knock on only the touch judge saw.

Hull then had a spell of pressure on the home sides line and came away with another Reece Dean penalty.

Preston’s off-half Hunt opened their account after 37 minutes with a penalty having missed an earlier attempt, but Hull then stormed back and a rolling maul saw hooker Mike Jobling plunge over for a try converted by Dean as halftime approached to see Hull comfortably ahead 16-3.
However Preston struck immediately deep in injury time with a try by winger Tyler Spence to close the gap to 16-8 at the break.

The second period was only nine minutes old when Preston mounted a good attack and scored a further try when hooker Jack Wilkinson touched down near the posts for a try converted by Hunt to close to within a point of Hull.

Within three minutes Hull scored again after a tremendous run by back rower Evi Uriburu-Gray saw centre David Halafoinua score a try converted by Dean.

After 75 minutes Preston’s Hunt kicked a penalty to keep his side in it but a try by Hull late, looked to have secured victory.

Jamie Shaul move left then right and David Halafoinua and Bureta Faraimo linked up to see Faraimo plunge over in the corner. Dean’s magnificent conversion seemed to finally seal the game for Hull.

But Preston never gave up and two late tries by Willets which was converted by Hunt and winger Lightowler, who rounded off a length of the field move saw the home side draw a game that just three minutes before seemed out of reach.

Richard Gore